4 Oct 1944: Zwaardvisch (1) uses her
deck gun to sink a Japanese tanker (+/- 500t). Position: north east of
Bali,.

6 Oct 1944 at 06:53 hrs: Zwaardvisch (1)
attacks the German submarine U 168 (+/- 1144t). The Dutch submarine
fires six torpedoes, one torpedo hits the target and the U-boat sinks. 27
Germans survive the attack, but 23 men are lost. Position:
06°20'S-111°28'E, off North coast of Java.
According to German sources the German submarine was intercepted after the
allies learned of its exact position, and time of arrival at several
navigation points, through code breaking efforts.

Some notes from 'U-boats Destroyed' by Paul Kemp: "...... U 168,
under the command of KapitanLeutnant Helmut Pich, was on passage from
Batavia (Jakarta, Dutch East Indies) to Soerabaja, where she was to join
U 537 and U 862 in operations off the Australian coast, when
she was sighted by the Dutch submarine. Zwaardvisch was well placed
for an attack and eleven minutes after sighting the Dutch sub fired
6 torpedoes om a 95-degree track from a range of 900 yds. One explosion
was heard and the Dutch commander raised the periscope to see the
submarine sinking by the bows. Three officers, the 1WO, the medical
officer and the LI, made escapes from the sinking U-boat from a depth of
120 ft without apparatus. Of the 27 rescued, the Dutch CO retained the CO,
the 1WO, the LI and the medical officer together with one wounded rating
in Zwaardvisch. The remainder were consigned to a nearby fishing
vessel and left to their own devices; the eventually got ashore in Java.
The survivors told the Dutch CO that three torpedoes had struck but that
only one had exploded. They also gave him the very good news that the
local Japanese air command did not start their anti-submarine patrols
until after 1100 ! ...............The German U-boat command in the Far
East became convinced that the loss of U 168 could be attributed to
'loose talk', since the crew had taken their Indonesian girlfriends on board
the U-boat for a farewell party.........."

The wreck of Itsukushima is discovered: 15 December 2002 and lies in two pieces in 184 feet of water. The forward section, comprising most of the ship, is upside down while aft section (very tip of stern) sits upright.

17 Oct 1944: Zwaardvisch (1) damages the Japanese auxiliary
minelayer Wakataka (1600t/1990t). The submarine fires two torpedoes
of which one hits the target. Position:
05°26'S-113°48'E, north of Bawean island.

7 Feb 1945: Zwaardvisch (1) attacks a
Japanese merchant. The attack is unsuccessful. Some sources state that the
submarine fires three torpedoes, at the 5000t merchant, of which one hits
the target. Other sources state that the submarine fired at a destroyer but
hit a merchant.

7 Feb 1945: Zwaardvisch (1) attacks a Japanese Q-ship. The
attack is unsuccessful.

16 Feb 1945: In the Lombok strait Zwaardvisch (1) is attacked by
a Japanese airplane. The submarine is damaged heavily. The submarine USS
Charr guides her through the rest of the strait.

6 Mar 1945: Zwaardvisch (1) arrives in Fremantle (Australia).

23 Mar - 15 Sep 1945: Zwaardvisch (1) is under the command of Ltz.
II J. van
Dapperen. Ltz. I H.A.W. Goossens is relieved because of his ill
health.

22 Jul - 11 Aug 1947: Zwaardvisch (1) and O 23sail to the Dutch West Indies. The
submarines are part of a temporary division that is under the command Ktz.
W.F. van Vreeswijk (flagship Van Kinsbergen).

11 Aug 1947: The ships arrive in Curaçao.

13 Oct - 31 Oct 1947: Zwaardvisch (1) and O 23return to the Netherlands. The submarines
are part of a temporary division that is under the command Kapt.ltz. W.F. van
Vreeswijk (flagship Van Kinsbergen).

23 Jan - 1 June 1953: Zwaardvis (1) is under the command of Ltz. I
H.J. Brakema.

In 1953 there is a large flood in the south west of the Netherlands
(Zeeland) and the Zwaardvis (1) crew assists in preparing the Zeeland
rescue fleet. The crew receives a special document from Her Royal
Highness Queen Juliana for their extraordinary commitment.

4 Dec 1957 at 18:08 hrs: On the river the Nieuwe Waterweg, while on transit
fro Torquay to Rotterdam, the Zwaardvis (1)
collides with the 5595 BRT SS Tanar. She did use radar but according to
the Cdt. this radar is not suitable for short ranges.

The ships collide in foggy weather off the city of Maassluis. The
submarine is inbound ant the Turkish vessel is outbound. The merchant
does not sustain any damage and the Zwaardvis (1) sustains the
following damage:

- The tip of the bow ins bend to port side.
- The 'middenshot' is some what buckled.
- The plates around tube 7 are some what pushed in.

After the collision both ship anchor and check the damage. After the
visibility has improved and the submarine has gotten a portofoon both
vessels continue their voyage.

26 Jan - 23 May 1960: Zwaardvis (1) is under the command of
A.F. de Bruïne.

Mar 1960: On 3 March 2000 there will be a reunion of the 'Mar 1960
squadron' for all sailors of the ships that were part of Smaldeel 1. The
Smaldeel 1 consisted of: cruiser Hr.Ms. De Ruyter, destroyer Hr.Ms.
Limburg, destroyer Hr.Ms. Drente, destroyer Hr.Ms.
Gelderland, frigate Hr.Ms. De Bitter and submarine Hr.Ms. Zwaardvis (1). The sailors of the
ships rescued many earthquake victims in Agadir (Morocco). Read the article
posted on the
Dutch Sub-Board or contact Ben
Timmermans (avomprev@tref.nl) for
more information.

23 May - 27 May 1960: Zwaardvis (1) is under the command of
J.H. van Rede.

12 Jul 1963: Zwaardvis (1) is sold to Jos de Smet in Alkmaar for
the sum of 166500 Dutch guilders. The boat is scrapped.

2000

On 3 March 2000 there will be a reunion for all sailors of the ships that
were part of Smaldeel 1. The Smaldeel 1 consisted of: cruiser Hr.Ms. De
Ruyter, destroyer Hr.Ms. Limburg, destroyer Hr.Ms. Drente,
destroyer Hr.Ms. Gelderland, frigate Hr.Ms. De Bitter and
submarine Hr.Ms. Zwaardvis (1). The
sailors of the ships rescued many earthquake victims in Agadir (Morocco).
Read the article posted on the
Dutch Sub-Board
or contact Ben Timmermans (avomprev@tref.nl)
for more information.

For more Zwaardvis (1) images check out the Zwaardvis (1)
photo special -1- and
-2-.

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